jack
01-07-2009, 06:28 AM
A utomakers around the world are busy researching on greener technologies to help ave the environment. However with fossil fuel depleting faster than the pace of research and development, hybrid vehicles seem to be the need of the hour. Two of the top Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Yamaha, are now in the quest of developing hybrid motorcycles.
Though the engineering involved in designing such hybrid drivetrains is an expensive affair, Honda claim to have found a midway solution by sharing technologies with their cars like the Civic Hybrid or the Insight. The company plans to offer such hybrid technology across various displacements ranging from 50CC city bikes to 1000CC sport variants. The technology sharing might also involve sharing of platforms a move to reduce production costs.
537
Inclusion of Li-ion batteries can give the bikes a range of upto 100 kilometers on a single charge. Though it may not be enough for long tours, it can definitely aid city commuting and save fuel for other usage like track days, touring or in case the battery drains out.
Yamaha too are working on their own version of hybrid bikes, however, they plan to launch e-bikes prior to the hybrids. We believe these will primarily be commuters and not as ambitious as the Hondas.
Though the engineering involved in designing such hybrid drivetrains is an expensive affair, Honda claim to have found a midway solution by sharing technologies with their cars like the Civic Hybrid or the Insight. The company plans to offer such hybrid technology across various displacements ranging from 50CC city bikes to 1000CC sport variants. The technology sharing might also involve sharing of platforms a move to reduce production costs.
537
Inclusion of Li-ion batteries can give the bikes a range of upto 100 kilometers on a single charge. Though it may not be enough for long tours, it can definitely aid city commuting and save fuel for other usage like track days, touring or in case the battery drains out.
Yamaha too are working on their own version of hybrid bikes, however, they plan to launch e-bikes prior to the hybrids. We believe these will primarily be commuters and not as ambitious as the Hondas.